Martoons

 Today: The accusations begin.

Cast of characters

Thomas

Wide Eyes / Damion

Mr Go

Scene: Central Institute

*

At this point Thomas’ goals in life were simple: As he gazed at the tiny wisp of steam rising from what was left of his coffee, he just wanted to get into the office, sit on the black leather couch by the glass table, and nurse his beverage for a few precious minutes.

Yet sometimes the things we want in life – even small, tiny things – always seem to elude us.

Thomas sauntered into Go’s office and sat down, putting the little steaming paper cup of consumer joy on the glass table.

But he would never get to enjoy those last few, sweet sips.

Just as he plopped his butt down, Go lit up a cigarette at his desk and then held his pack of smokes out to Wide Eyes who took one.

Whatever this meeting was about, it was now officially under way.

Lighting up the smokes was like banging a gavel.

“Close the door,” Go said to Wide Eyes.

“We’ll make this short,” Wide Eyes piped in, standing back at the door.

“You’re lucky Mr Go is a compassionate man. Otherwise, you’d soon be getting to know the interior of a Korean prison cell very intimately.”

He puffed his cigarette and then scoffed.

“And that intimacy would likely – through no choice of your own – extend to some of the inmates.”

“Oh…kay…” Thomas said, rolling his eyes and realizing he was caught in another situation where he had absolutely no idea what was going on.

Wide Eyes took some steps toward him.

“The nerve of you!”

He waved his finger at Thomas.

“How dare you put your dear owner at risk like this! Do you have any idea of how illegal your package is? Marijuana is a serious crime here. You’re not in Canada anymore. Wake up!”

* So Mr Go fell for Damion’s plan? *

Thomas just sat there looking straight ahead, trying to filter out the aural assault.

All kinds of negative thoughts raced through his head, the common theme being I’d like to stand up right now and TKO this wanker!

But he braced himself and remained motionless and speechless.

The only thing that moved was a large vein that ran up the side of his left temple.

It throbbed and pounded. 

“Brother!” Go said to Wide Eyes, “Stop talking!”

The oddball foreigner bowed his head like a scolded student.

Go retrieved the package and tossed the light-weighted, brown-paper-wrapped shoebox onto the glass table.

The baggie of oregano that was stuffed inside had been partly exposed by Wide Eyes.

Yet Thomas grinned, not at all the horrified response Wide Eyes was looking for.

* Why is Thomas smiling? *

“Got rolling papers?” Thomas asked.

“If that’s what I think it is.”

He ripped open the box and took out the bag, pinching a small amount of the herb and smelling it.

Then he got a baffled look.

“Actually, no it’s not what I think it is . . . ”

He looked up at Go and smiled.

“You planning on making spaghetti? This spice is what I always use in it. By the way, I make the best meatballs. Why don’t we…”

Wide Eyes cut him off and wagged that finger again.

“So you think this is some kind of joke?”

He turned away and paced intensely around the room in a blatant display of overacting.

Right away Thomas understood the fake pot prank and obvious attempted frame-up but he also realized there was something deeper going on.

And this time he wasn’t going to just sit there like a Dumb Foreigner and take it.

* What is Thomas going to do? *

*

Tomorrow: Wide Eyes demands Thomas’ relocation.